ALP capitalises as Bush comments wrongfoot Government

PM - Tuesday, 11 February , 2003 00:00:00

Reporter: Matt Brown

MARK COLVIN: The American President's words from Washington dominated political debate in Canberra today.

The Labor Opposition seized on George Bush's inclusion of Australia in the so-called 'coalition of the willing'.

The Government, bereft of the parliamentary experience of the Prime Minister, was slow to mount an effective counter attack.

Matt Brown reports from Canberra.

MATT BROWN: For the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, the words of the American President have been manner from heaven.

SIMON CREAN: I want to thank the US President for being honest for the Australian people in a way in which John Howard hasn't been.

MATT BROWN: The arguments advanced this afternoon, really, are little different from those that have typified the debate so far.

But the fire being fanned by the Opposition was fed fresh oxygen today by George W Bush, with just three words.

SIMON CREAN: He said "Yes, I do." Like a marriage proposal, this, and where did we get it? We had to wait for the Prime Minister to go to Washington, and for the President of the United States to expose the deceit of the Prime Minister.

MATT BROWN: Before question time even began, Simon Crean was accusing the Prime Minister of tossing away Australia's sovereign right to judge its own national interests, and maybe worse still, of lying to the diggers.

SIMON CREAN: And when a Prime Minister won't tell the truth to the Australian public, that is outrageous, but it's appalling that he won't tell the troops the truth when they leave on his command.

MATT BROWN: The Opposition's line of attack was clear and obvious. Well in advance of question time, when it opened up simply enough.

SIMON CREAN: Can the Acting Prime Minister confirm that the coalition of the willing is a group of countries coordinated by the United States to militarily disarm Iraq with or without a second resolution from the United Nations.

MATT BROWN: Given the public's concern about bellicose talk, and its anxiousness about being involved in attack without the backing of the United Nations, you might think the first answer from the Acting Prime Minister, John Anderson, would be a long and comprehensive one, putting George Bush's quote into a context more favourable to the Government.

But here's his answer, in full.

JOHN ANDERSON: Ah Mr Speaker, I can confirm that the coalition of the willing are those who are keen to see Saddam Hussein stripped of his weapons of mass destruction, and in that sense I would have to say to you I would hope that we are all willing to do what we can.

We've made it very plain though, Mr Speaker, and nothing, nothing should be allowed to hide, obscure or disguise the simple reality that our primary objective is to seek that disarmament.

It is to do it preferably under the cover of further support from the United Nations, Mr Speaker, and that furthermore we've made it very plain to the Americans that no commitment has been made by the Australian Government, and proper process before any decision was made on any course of action would be followed.

MATT BROWN: So, there'll be quick Cabinet meeting when it comes time to make a decision.

But George Bush's most recent quote is not the only one from the US Administration that can be made to sound like it's in contradiction with the Government's line.

SIMON CREAN: Isn't it the case that the US Secretary of Defence, in response to the following question, and I quote it, "Do you think the United States is going to have to go with the coalition of the willing, as opposed to the United Nations?", replied and I quote the Secretary of Defence, "Only time will tell, but there is a sizeable coalition of the willing that's already on board, with or without a second resolution from the United Nations."

MATT BROWN: Faced with that quote, at last, John Anderson put George Bush's quote out there in full.

JOHN ANDERSON: You know, the actual transcript of the interview today is quite revealing, the President was asked "Do you count Australia as part of the coalition of the willing?" The President said "Yes I do", but he went on to say you know, what that means is up to John, i.e. the Prime Minister, and his Government of Australia to decide.

He had plainly recognised the Prime Minister's repeated, clear indication that no commitment to military action has been undertaken or made by the Australian Government.

MATT BROWN: At the end of question time, the Opposition Leader moved to censure the Government, claiming yet again that it's been misleading the Parliament and the public.